Page 56 of All Wrong
“Miss McCain,” he said, his voice grave, “do you have a moment?”
“Of course.”
Mr. Gehman stepped into her small office and closed the door behind him. Corinne looked past him to see questioning looks from Sharon and the other tellers through the glass panels that allowed the CCTV cameras to visually record everything that happened in the bank. They couldn’t see the manager’s face, but she could. He looked grim.
Corinne prepared herself for a lecture on professionalism and tardiness as he took a seat on one of the comfortable client chairs opposite her desk.
“First, I want you to know that you do a fantastic job here. Your professionalism and knowledge are greatly respected and appreciated.”
“Are they?” she asked.
His left eye twitched. “I know you wanted the assistant manager position, and I understand how disappointed you must be that it was given to someone else.”
She offered a tight smile, but said nothing.
“What you must understand is that sometimes … well, sometimes, we must make concessions for the greater good.”
“The greater good,” she repeated.
“Corinne, do you know who Miss Miller’s godfather is?”
“Can’t say that I do,” she said, wondering what that had to do with anything.
He paused meaningfully. “Russell Henderson.”
Corinne frowned. “The real estate developer?”
“And the newest member of the bank’s board of directors,” he added.
“I see.” And she did. She understood things like politics and pressure.
“I wasn’t given a choice, Corinne.”
She nodded—because what else could she say?Sorry you don’t have a backbone?
She wasn’t naïve. She knew stuff like that happened every day. She just didn’t think they’d happen here, where until recently, people were treated fairly, and promoted or reprimanded based on performance and professionalism.
He stood to go. “Oh, and one more thing.”
“Yes?”
“I need you to take a look at the Kellermans’ accounts.”
“Becci took those over.”
His lips formed a tight, thin line. “They’ve requested you specifically,” he said as if it was painful to get the words out. “They’ve made it clear that if you do not reassume control, they will close their accounts and take their business elsewhere. We can’t allow that to happen, obviously. They have a lot of clout in the community.”
“Obviously,” she murmured.
“Good. I’ll let you get to it. And let’s keep this between us, shall we? I truly am sorry.”
Yeah, well, that and five bucks might get you a coffee down the street.
Part of her wanted to quit right then and there. To tell Mr. Gehman he could suffer the consequences of his spineless actions. But she really liked the Kellermans. They’d been friends with her parents for years, and she didn’t want to see them lose value on their investments.
Sighing, Corinne pulled up their accounts and got to work.
“Knock, knock.”
